Great Gatsby Chapter 2
Compare/contrast the personalities and physical characteristics of Myrtle and Daisy
Daisy is slim and beautiful, but Myrtle is the opposite (curvaceous and not beautiful) Daisy is bubbly and quite, while Myrtle is loud and aggressive Daisy is rich, Myrtle is poor Similarities: they're both in a relationship with Tom
Make a comparison of the homes of Nick, Gatsby, Tom and Daisy Buchanan, and George and Myrtle Wilson. How does each home reflect the personality of its owners?
Gatsby has the biggest house out of all of them, because he's trying to show off. The Buchanans have a smaller house than Gatsby, and it means more to them. Nick has the next smallest house (a cottage), because he's simple, but surrounds himself with rich people. The Wilsons have the smallest house out of all of them (because they're poor), an apartment over Mr. Wilson's garage, and it's messy and depressing.
What does Tom do to Myrtle when she repeats Daisy's name? Why do you think he did it? What hints from the first chapter indicated Tom was capable of this behavior?
He slaps her and broke her nose He was protecting Daisy In the first chapter, it says that he's a big, aggressive, strong man
Describe Tom's "girl" in 3-4 sentences
Her name is Myrtle. She's curvaceous, married to Mr. Wilson, not beautiful, mid-30's, lives in the valley of ashes. She has a sister named Catherine
Why is the ending of Chapter 2 so disjointed? What had Nick been doing all evening that might have caused this strange narrative?
His mind is everywhere, and it's hard to understand what he's talking about He had been drinking
Describe the valley of ashes. What might the ashes symbolize?
Its located halfway between West Egg and Manhattan. It looks like its "growing ashes". Everyhting is black and grey. And its an industrial area with a lot of pollution It may symbolize death
Describe Mr. and Mrs. Wilson's relationship. How did Myrtle know she made a "mistake" when she married Wilson?
Mr. Wilson loves his wife, Myrtle isn't happy in their marriage Myrtle realized she made a mistake because he borrowed another man's suit to get married in and didn't tell her about it. He wasn't as rich as she thought he was, and she says "he wasn't fit to lick [her] shoe".
What is the lie that Tom told Catherine? Why do you think he lied?
That Daisy is Catholic, and since Catholics don't believe in divorce, they cant get divorced He doesn't want to divorce Daisy, so he comes up with excuses
Explain how Tom and Myrtle met.
They met on a train; she was going to visit her sister in New York, and they were flirting on the train, and then she got in a taxi with him
Why do you think Tom is attracted to Myrtle?
Tom has more in common with Myrtle than with Daisy
What business transaction is going on between Tom and Mr. Wilson?
Tom has promised Wilson he's going to sell him a car
Describe the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg. What might they represent or symbolize?
Blue and gigantic, with retinas one yard high. It's and old, worn out billboard for an eye doctor. And its located in the valley of ashes It symbolizes God looking over everything
